MONTREAL - What a heartbreaker.
The dream of World Junior Hockey Championship gold in Montreal ended in a shootout on Thursday night at the Bell Centre as Canada fell 5-4 to the United States.
Troy Terry, who was the shootout hero for the Americans in the semifinals, scored the only goal of the five-round breakaway contest, giving the US the victory.
The shootout was a sour ending to what was a fantastic hockey game. Canada led 2-0 and 4-2 at times only to have the Americans claw back. Both teams had great chances in overtime - and Canada even had a power play - but could not connect in an action packed 20 minutes of sudden victory (the IIHF's words, not mine).
It was a memorable night for the QMJHL with Thomas Chabot, Jeremy Lauzon, Nicolas Roy and Mathieu Joseph all scoring in regulation time. Unfortunatly for Roy, he had the last Canadian shootout attempt but could not score.
Chabot opened the scoring 4:58 in, a goal that was assisted by Joseph.
Chabot goal, 1-0 Canada pic.twitter.com/3MJh8w1iKu— GIF Grand Maester (@myregularface) January 6, 2017
Chabot had another insane night, recording a goal, an assist and three shots while playing just under 44 minutes (43:53). His performance at this year's tournament will go down as one of the greatest in world junior history.another angle of Chabot's goal pic.twitter.com/jh1jwnijr0— GIF Grand Maester (@myregularface) January 6, 2017
Lauzon scored just over four minutes later to give Canada a 2-0 lead after one. But in the second, the US would tie things up at 2-2 before the period was halfway done.
In the third, Roy scored 1:52 in, putting Canada back in front. Less than three minutes later, Joseph scored his first of the tournament - a goal that was assisted by Chabot.
Earlier in the period, Joseph left the game for a brief time after colliding knee-on-knee with Kieffer Bellows. He returned not long after and showed no signs of pain for the rest of the game. He finished with one goal, one assist and two shots in 17:52 of ice time.Joseph puts Canada up 4-2 pic.twitter.com/A2Me5omUEv— GIF Grand Maester (@myregularface) January 6, 2017
The US would tie things up again though, sending the match to overtime and eventually a shootout.
Chabot was named Canada's Player of the Game once again. He was also named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, best defenceman and placed on the all-star team.
Chabot and Joseph join Simon Despres as the only Sea Dogs to win silver at the world juniors. Chris DiDomenico remains the only Dog with gold.Chabot is the first defenseman to ever be named MVP of the World Juniors. Award started in 2002.— (((Corey Pronman))) (@coreypronman) January 6, 2017
Meanwhile, Canada's Julien Gauthier, who is expected to be traded to the Sea Dogs on Friday, was held pointless on Thursday in 23:52 of ice time.
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